Trinity River Corridor Timeline

1800's

1841 - John Neely Bryan settled on th: John Neely Bryan settled on the East Bank of the Trinity River.
1846 - John Neely Bryan begins operat: John Neely Bryan begins operating a ferry across the Trinity.
1868 - Captain James McGarvey piloted: Captain James McGarvey piloted Job Boat #1 along the Trinity River from Galveston to Dallas. Dallas subsequently builds a steamship, the Sallie Haynes, which made several trips along the upper reaches of the Trinity.
1893 - Steamboat H.A. Harvey navigate: Steamboat H.A. Harvey navigates Trinity from Galveston to Dallas.

1900 - 1959

1908 - Great Flood: The Trinity River: Great Flood: The Trinity River reaches a depth of 52.6 feet and a width of one and a half miles. Five people are drowned; 4,000 flee their homes; and property damage is estimated at $2.5 million. The worst flooding of the Trinity in Dallas history prompts calls for a levee project.
1911 - Kessler Plan - "A City Plan Fo: Kessler Plan - "A City Plan For Dallas."
1917 - Approval of the levees for the: Approval of the levees for the protection of the property owned by T.H. Harbin and others by the state.
1919 - Kessler returns to update plan: Kessler returns to update plan.
1926 - City of Dallas and Dallas Coun: City of Dallas and Dallas County form the Dallas Levee Improvement District with the goal to build levees.
1930 - Levee project completed. Trini: Levee project completed. Trinity Canal Association is formed.
1942 - Hare & Hare Master Plan - "A S: Hare & Hare Master Plan - "A System of Parks and Schools": Proposes portions of the Trinity become parkway along old river bed with landscaping similar to Turtle Creek. No recommendations for area between levees.
1945 - Congress authorizes the "Dalla: Congress authorizes the "Dallas Floodway Project."
1950 - Reauthorization of the "Dallas: Reauthorization of the "Dallas Floodway Project."
1959 - Parks and Open Space Plan: Pro: Parks and Open Space Plan: Proposes using area between levees for athletic fields and public use areas. All of Trinity was proposed as a reservation for future recreational development.

1960's

1962 - The U.S. Army Corps of Enginee: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan for Trinity calls for full multi-use development including flood control, navigation, recreation, and water resources development.
1965 - Congress authorizes the "Dalla: Congress authorizes the "Dallas Floodway Extension Project."
1967 - Bond program sets aside funds: Bond program sets aside funds to begin Trinity greenbelt acquisition for use of recreational facilities such as trails, picnic and athletic facilities.
1968 - The City of Dallas assumes the: The City of Dallas assumes the facilities and responsibilities of the Flood Control district.
1969 - Town Lake Feasibility Study: P: Town Lake Feasibility Study: Proposed in addition to a lake, alteration to levees and close connections between the lake and surrounding areas.
1969 - Open Space Development Trinity: "Open Space Development Trinity River System."

1970's

1970 - Adoption of the 1969 Plan.: Adoption of the 1969 Plan.
1972 - Donation of Trinity Levee Syst: Donation of Trinity Levee System to the city: Approximately 930 acres of land is donated for use as park and transportation facilities including roadways, navigation and flood protection. City used donation to request a grant from HUD to acquire remaining privately owned property between levees and received $2.23 million grant that stated it would provide open space for riding & biking trails, archery fields, basketball & tennis courts, athletic fields, golf courses and lakes.
1972 - Trinity River Greenway: A Prot: Trinity River Greenway: A Prototype: Proposes a river parkway and suggests that the area might be a State Park.
1972 - Town Lake Environmental Awaren: Town Lake Environmental Awareness Study: Heightened environmental awareness & stimulated interest in beautifying and enhancing the local environment by means of a Town Lake.
1974 - All privately owned land betwe: All privately owned land between the levees is purchased.
1975 - Town Lake Concept Assesment: E: Town Lake Concept Assesment: Evaluates four alternatives for floodway park development and recommends an expanded lake situated in a slightly enlarged Dallas Floodway.
1975 - Town Lake Plan.: Town Lake Plan.
1978 - Bond Program: Town Lake was pl: Bond Program: Town Lake was placed on Bond program as a separate item and was defeated.
1978 - Economic Impacts of The Propos: Economic Impacts of The Proposed Dallas Town Lake: Town Lake can be viewed as a long-term investment and a major urban amenity, Gradual redevelopment, highest density should be near park areas & Phase I of Town lake would not have a significant affect on development.

1980's

1980 - Levee Extension Proposal: Levee Extension Proposal
1983 - Trinity River State Park: Trinity River State Park: The portion of the Trinity River below the levee system was approved by the state Legislature as designation for a State Park. The park would be approximately 200 feet wide on each side for the river from near downtown to south IH 35 for a distance of 11.6 mi. Till 1983, the The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has not had the funding to pursue the park.
1983 - Trinity River Greenbelt Plan.: Trinity River Greenbelt Plan.
1985 - Town Lake Study: Analyzed 4 al: Town Lake Study: Analyzed 4 alternatives.
1985 - Chain of Lakes Plan: This conc: Chain of Lakes Plan: This concept was added to the city study as a 5th alternative.
1985 - Bond Program: Approved by vote: Bond Program: Approved by voters
1989 - Upper Trinity River Feasibility Study initiated.: Upper Trinity River Feasibility Study initiated.

1990's

1990 - As a result of flooding in 198: As a result of flooding in 1989 and 1990, the City of Dallas asks the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reevaluate the Dallas Floodway Extension and to assess structural and nonstructural alternatives.1996
1996 - Chain of Wetlands concept: App: Dallas Floodway and the Stemmons/North Industrial District: Dallas City Council authorizes the City's participation in the study
1997 - Lamar and Cadillac Heights Pro: Summit on the Trinity River Corridor: Mayor Ronald Kirk brings together representatives of the City of Dallas, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of the Army, Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Turnpike Authority, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, and the County of Dallas to initiate full inter-agency cooperation for improvements within the Corridor to coordinate funding and schedules for projects within the Trinity River Corridor, to increase communication in order to prevent duplication of effort, and to provide information to the public in a proactive manner.
1996 - "Chain of Wetlands": Approved by the Dallas City Council: "Chain of Wetlands" concept: Approved by the Dallas City Council
1997 - The Great Trinity Forest Master Plan Concept: Approved: The Great Trinity Forest Master Plan Concept: Approved by the Dallas City Council
1997 - Dallas County Trail Plan: Approved: Dallas County Trail Plan: Approved by the Dallas County Commissioners Court; includes an extensive network of trails within the Trinity River Corridor.
1997 - Lamar and Cadillac Heights Pro: Lamar and Cadillac Heights Protective Levees: Approved by the Dallas City Council as the locally preferred plan.
1997 - Texas Department of Transporta: Texas Department of Transportation Trinity Parkway Major Transportation Investment Study (MTIS): Approved by the Dallas City Council as the locally preferred plan.
1998 - $246 million Capital Bond Prog: $246 million Capital Bond Program: Approved by the Citizens of Dallas for improvements within the Trinity River Corridor.